Canine Research

Alaskan sled dogs are perhaps the ultimate endurance athletes, and studies from
this laboratory have sought to define the physiologic responses of these dogs
to sustained and repetitive exertion, and to training. Studies have included
determination of the electrocardiographic characteristics of Alaskan sled dogs,
investigating the effects of training on electrocardiographic and echocardiographic
characteristics of these dogs, and determining the relationship between electrocardiographic
characteristics and the likelihood of death during a race. Other studies have
investigated the energy expenditure of Alaskan sled dogs, the mechanism of exercise
associated hyponatremia, and the effect of oxidative stress. Several studies
have documented the effect of participation in a long distance race on health
indices of the dogs.